Antitheft alarm for automobiles



April 21, 1925.

. 4 I G- SCHWEIKHARD ANTITHEFT ALARM FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed .Dec. 12 1919 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Patented Apr. 21, 1925 UNITED STATES 1,534,666 PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE SGHWEIKHAR-D, or Los .ANGELES, CALIFORNIA. M p

ANTITHEFT ALARM FOR AUTOMOBILES.

Application filed. December 12, 1919. Serial No. 344,474.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE SOHWEIKHARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at 152 South Avenue 20, Los Angeles, in the county of Los Angeles and State of Galifo-rnia, have invented a new and useful Antitheft Alarm for Automobiles, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to the protection of automobiles against theft and I have developed the same in four forms, any one of which when applied, will produce an alarm audible at a distance of two or three city blocks.

It is well known that where automobiles are parked closely on the street and are constantly'arriving and leaving, some are likely to be stolen; and an object of this invention is to provide a device with which an automobile may be so equipped that the motor can not be operated without giving such an alarm that the person attempting theft will either abandon the vehicle, or be subjected to capture while trying to drive it away.

Automobiles with protecting devices thereon may be stolen if sufficient time and opportunity are allowed for the removal of the protecting devices and anobject of this invention is to provide a protectivedevice that will not be prominent to view and not likely to be noticed, and which aifords but little if any clue to the inspector as to whether or not it is a protective device or is set to that purpose. I

Another object is to provide a protective devicewhich may beso located that in case its presence is suspected or known, an attempted removal thereof would be likely to arouse the suspicions of passers-by,and its actual removal would require so much time that the likelihood of detection would be sufficient to prevent attempt at theft in practically every instance where persons in terested in preventing theft were within sight and hearing.

Another object is to provide a. valve which will not'be aifected by the carbon deposit in the exhaustpipes.

This invention relates to devices of a character calculated toavoid the necessity of attaching the protective appliances to the automobile at each stop where protection is deemed necessary. and which duty persons often neglect in view of the short time they expect the car to remain unattended.

Another object is to provide means to guard against the likelihood of inadvertently driving the automobile off while the key to the protective device is left at home.

The invention may be carried out in various ways and a principle thereof is the use of the running motor to sound an alarm through means that are locked in alarm position when the car is placed underits pro tection. I propose to utilize the power at the exhaust pipe, at the petcock'port or at the spark plug port, preferably utilizing the power at the exhaust pipe. I 5 The motor cylinder or thelike may be especially formed to apply an expansive fluid to the sounder for giving an alarm pended claims.

Other objects, advantages, and features of invention may appear from the accompanying drawings, the subjoined detailed description and the appended claims.

p The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention. Q f c Figure l is a cross-sectional elevation of the invention shown as adapted to use on the exhaust pipe of the motor, with valve turned into position to sound the alarm.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the lock, and comprises all of the device that is to be seen from within the automobile when the floor mat or other concealing device therefor, not shown, is moved aside.

Fig. 3 is bottom end view ofthekey-rod and sleeve, detached.

Fig. 4 is a sectional plan of the invention taken at line m, Fig. 1. y

Fig. 5 is a sectional plan taken at line m Fig. 1 with the valve turned so as to make the alarm non-operative, but to carry oi the exhaust of the. engine,

Fig. 6 is a plan partly in section on line as, Fig.7 showing the invention as adapted to connect at the pet-cock holev and to be controlled from the dash-board.

Fig. 7 is a fragmental sectional view taken at line M, Fig. 6, showing the valve in position to sound the whistle.

Fig. 8 is a view analogous to Fig. 7, omitting the guards and showing the valve revolved 90 degrees from the position of Fig.

7, to \a nonssigna-ling position.

Fig.9 is -a view analogous to Figs. :7. and 8, showing the alarm as applied at the spark plug hole.

Fig. is a sectional elevation of amodel different from any of theforegoing, but cmbracing the same idea of alarm means and adapted for use at either .the;p ,et-.cockihole or the spark plug hole.

.In-the fornrshown in Figs. Liv-5a valve body liis provided--.-with a-bore 2 to receive the valve plug 3 -w-hich extends entirely throughsaidbody; and said body isalso provided witlrthe port-s4, threaded to re- .eeivethe sectionsii, 5'10f the: exhaustipipe, into-a break of ewhich pipesaid valvebody .is-introduced. The v"valve plug 3. is provided with a transverse bore :6 adapted to register with the-exhaust pzorts t when the .plug is ht11116d;l;11 one direction, and said plug is also provided with anoblique passa-ge 7 extend ing-; fro-1none side of the-plug to:the end-of lheplugf; and terminating at theaxis ofsaid plug. l he ,pl-ugis thus ,adapted tomfiord free communication .through the exhaust portiifi from one exhaust-pipe section to the other, and whentth-e pluggisturned in one direction said port '7 i is adapted to communicate with the exhaust pipe section5 .from the motor and to direct the-exhaust ,awayifrom theoutlet exhaust vpipe section 5. A sounder 8 adapted totbesblown-by exhaust. directed thereto, through the oblique passage 7, is :fixed to.the valve,.plug by screws: 9.

The valvezplug .3 may be heldiinplaceby any suitable lIlQtlIlS landqis adapted .to be operated'by any suitable means controlled by a. suitable lock which. maybe Ofanydesired. or suitablecharacter. Inthe Zdraw- .ings the ,lock ,isia jkey-operatedjlock and when the .key yisi inserted and turned, it revolves .a rodlO which is connecte'dby suitable means as the mortise and tenon 11,12, to. revolve the .valveplug 3.

Asgshown in Fig. 1, while valve plug 3 remains in position toclosezexhaust pipe .5, 5,, s aid .oblique passage .7 leads from .exhaust pipe 4 to the sounderuhi-ch maylbe of anydesiredcharacter andis shown as police whistle.

valve plugfi is-held inzthe housinghy a cover 0 fastenedto therhousingiscrewst). Thevalve .is adapted; tobe operated by rod 10 which extends througlrtheycover (gsand engages valve plug; 3 with the. mortisepand tenoin-conneetion .11, .Sa-id. rod l-O leads vertically to ,lock 13 wl1ich is -.let into the guard'for rod-lfiand lock18 is secured at its lower end to cover a'by a threaded connection .18 and is secured at its upper end by flanges 19 and screws 20 to the floor 1 of the automobile.

Lock l3is fastened in the upper end of sleeve 17 by a pin 21 and the rotary action of lock cylinder 16 is limited to a desired are by detent 22 which engages a notch 23 at base of said cylinder. Look 16 is so connected -:W-ltl1 ,-rod '10 that the hey, :no! shown ean be 1 removed only when 7 thedo" vice is set for signal.

"lhewhistle 8 is shown as placed onthe bottom of valveplug and is-rotatable therewith and is opene'chto the outlet 24: otthe oblique passage 7.

iGnuands 25, 26, of suitable unaterial, as malleable metal are. designed: to protect the sounder against injury. :The outer guard 25 is attached by loops 27,- 28 around the exhaust -pipe5, 5': such attachment. being made possible by removing the separatedend 5 which 1may be::secured tothe floor otthe auto uvith1the usuahpipe straps, not shown.

:The: inner-guard; 26uis-securedtothe .val vc housing by screws :26. and both guards 25, 26 are perforated, to. emit the sound of. alarm, the: perforations a -Z2, being arranged in the two: respective guards. in staggered or alternating positions.

An :advantage of the structure set forth above is that. the valve, d-ueto 5 its being rotary 1 instead -:of :the wing; type, will not become clogged or. obstructed :by carbon deiposits in the exhaust :pipe. Each 1 deposits are likel-yx't-obecome lodged =u-nde1 the {wing type "valve sand whereby prevent the valve from i tightly closing; a nd -which evill i-result in ithe signal. means being. sounded during such times as itiis'not desired toibe sounded.

A vfurther advantage isthat if. a wouldbe thief should succeed in removing =the portion 5 of-thaexhaust pipe asolid portion of the valve3 wouldcloseasuchflopening ;and preventithe :insertion of a rod to open the valve.

Theiform illustrated iii-Figs. 6,i7 and 8 embraces the principal ideas of 1 means conveyed in the foregoingdescriptionubut is adapted toibeaappl-ied to-the engine :at the pet-cock hole 128 and is controlled 1 through the i lock \L3;.at= the; dash-board e.

The body 29 is secured to engine 30 ;a nipple 1.31 which .-screws tightl i t place to hold theibod-y. 29v .on. the-engine 30.

The valve 32 revolves imbearing 33, beingihcldsecureby nut 3i, and' is. connected with red .10 i in i the a manner described with respectito iFigs. 1-5. \Thelug.35iandthe Wallsofssbtv 36 .in the .outer guard 38 2 preclude, the. possibility of. unscrewing. the protect-ingssleeve 17in an attempt to dismantle the device, ,yvhile the outer; guardr38isiin P a e The perforated double-walled guard in Figs. 6, 7, 8, is similar to that described in connection with'the foregoing views, but the inner guard 37 is penetrated by operating rod 10 and sleeve 17 which arrangement reinforces both rod 10 and guard 38. Said guard 38 is secured ,to base f, with so many screws 39, that considerable time is required to unscrew the screws, before the guard may be detached. 1

The form shown in Fig. 9 is similar in principle to the one shown in Figs. 6, 7 and 8, but is adapted to be applied at the sparkplug.

From the dash-board, not shown, the valve 4-8 is turned by rod 49 and opens or closes the power duct 50 which registers with the whistle 8 at its upper end and with the spark tube 52 at its lower end.

lhe form illustrated in Fig. 10. is adapt-- ed for use at the pet-cock hole or spark plug hole with special connection as shown in Fig. 9, and embraces the same idea of alarm means as-is disclosed in foregoing views; but is of different construction and comprises a body 53 which is secured on top of the engine 54 over the pet-cock hole 55 by a stout nipple 56. The passage up to the petcock hole is continued upward into body 53 by channel 57 which leads to conduit 58 then to the receiving tube 59 of the whistle 8 when set for alarm as shown in said Fig. 10. But when the operating rod 60 which is controlled in manner similar to the two previously described forms, is turnedonehalf a revolution, the cam 61 which articulates with compresser 62 releases the spring 63 which forces upward compresser 62 drawing with it the pivotally attached rod 64 and plug 65, thus closing the passage to the whistle.

The well 66 is provided as a guide and support for spring 63 and is secured to the body by screws 67.

When the plug is drawn up into position to close the conduit 58 against the force of explosion it is in position to be driven up even more tightly'by the explosive force; but upon being released by the shifting of the cam 63, said explosive force is allowed to escape around the plug 65, throughconduit 58 to sound an alarm.

I claim:

1. An automobile anti-theft device including in combination with an explosive engine, an alarm actuated by the exploded gas of said engine; a valve having a valve plug provided with a passageway therethrough for directing the exploded gas to said alarm, said alarm being mounted on said valve plug and means whereby said valve can be locked in operative and inoperative positions for the purpose as set forth, and means for permitting the exploded gas to escape without sounding said alarm-when said valve is locked in inopera tive position. i

2. An automobile anti-theft device in cluding in combination with an explosive engine, a valve, a valve plug having passageways therethrough, one of said passageways allowing the exhaust to pass uninterruptedly from said engine, an alarm mounted onsaid valve plug and actuated by the exhaust of said engine, and means whereby the other passageway can be locked in position for directing said exhaust to said alarm.

3. An automobile anti-theft device including in combination with an explosive engine, an exhaust for conducting the exhaust from said engine, an alarm device mounted transversely of said pipe; said alarmv coinprising a body adapted to receive sections of said pipe, a valve plug in said body, an alarm sounding device mounted on said said plug having transverse I and oblique passageways, and means whereby said oblique passageway may be locked in position for directing the exhaust to sound said alarm during the operation of the engine.

4. An automobile anti-theft device includ.

ing in combination with an explosive engine, an exhaust pipe for conducting the exhaust from said engine, an alarm device mounted transversely of said pipe, said device comprising a body adapted to receive sections of said pipe, a valve plug in said body, an alarm sounding device mounted on said plug; said alarm sounding device being protected by a double walled enclosure, said walls being respectively perforated and said perforations being in staggered relation, said plug having transverse and oblique passageway, and means whereby said oblique passageway may be locked in position for directing the exhaust to sound said alarm during the operation of the engine; said locking means being controlled from a key hole in the floor of the automobile.

5. An automobile anti-theft device comprising a valve body adapted to be attached to an exhaust pipe of an automobile, a rotary valve in said body, and audible signal means rotatable with said valve.

6. An automobile anti-thefit device \including in combination with an explosive engine, an exhaust pipe for conducting the exhaust from said engine, an alarm device mounted transversely of said pipe and comprising a whistle; and an alternating valve having transverse and oblique passageways which opens and closes the passage leading from the exhaust pipe to the whistle for the purpose as set forth, said whistle being mounted on said valve.

7. An automobile anti-theft device including in combination with an engine, an exhaust pipe for conducting the exhaust from said engine, an alarm device comprising a body adapted to receive sections of said pipe, a valve plug in said "body, an alarm sounding vdevice mounted on said plug, saidzbody having an inner guard fastened theretofor protection of said alarm, an outer guard encircling said inner guard and the sections of said pipe; said guards being perforated to allow the sound-to escape; means controlledby lock and key from the interior of the automobile for operating the valve; said valve being provided with two bores so arranged as to conduct the exhaust of saidenginethrough either of said bores into a desired channel forthe purpose of alternatively sounding or not sounding-said alarm when the engineis running.

8. An automobile anti-theft device .including in combination 'with a valve body having ports and an alternating valveplug havingportsto be moved into and out of register with the ports of "said body, an alarimmember,mounted ;on said valve plug, andlockand key controlling means :t'or said valve plug, said valve plug having transverse andoblique passageways therein.

9. An automobile anti-theft device comprising in combination with an engine, an alternating valve having a rotary valve plug,-an.alarm membermounted on the rotary valve plug, said valve plug having an opening therein for conducting an expansive Jfluid from the engine to said alarm member for sounding the alarm when the engine is running and the valve is in a;predetermined position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand at Los Angeles, California,

this v5th-day of December, .1919.

GEORGE SCHVEIKHARD. Witness JAMES R. TOWNSEND. 

